Sinn Fein in discussions with returning officer Geraldine O’Connor.
A recheck of the papers of three candidates has put any hope of Donegal electing its five TDs tonight to bed!
Returning officer Geraldine O’Connor has agreed to the recheck which was requested at 2.10am by Sinn Fein.
The rechecks relate to the votes of Pearse Doherty, Gary Doherty and Dessie Shiels.
Ms O’Connor said “A request has been received from the SF party to carry out a recheck of the votes from Gary Doherty, Pearse Doherty and Dessie Shiels.
“I’m going to grant this request and propose at this point to conclude the current process and resume the count at 10am and commence the recheck requested,” she said.
It follows the elimination of Gary Doherty on the seventh count where he was just seven votes behind Dessie Shiels.
After a discussion between Sinn Fein and count officials at the Aura Leisure Centre, it was agreed to the recheck at 10am today (SUN).
Sinn Fein believes keeping Gary Doherty in the race would be more beneficial to Padraig Mac Lochlainn and could help close the gap on Thomas Pringle who is almost 1,500 votes ahead of the Sinn Fein justice spokesman.
It had been hoped that all five TDs would be elected overnight.
Only Fianna Fail’s Charlie McConalogue has been elected after he topped the poll.
“A request has been received from the SF party to carry out a recheck of the votes from Gary Doherty, Pearse Doherty and Dessie Shiels.
“I’m going to grant this request and propose at this point to conclude the current process and resume the count at 10am and commence the recheck requested,” she said.
